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Opinion Contributor

New Democrats offer solutions for new Congress

The New Democrats have consistently worked across the aisle, the authors say.

By ELLEN TAUSCHER, TIM ROEMER and JIM DAVIS | 2/3/13 7:54 PM EST

Over the past year, one storyline weaved its way through the 2012 election narrative: the decline and “death” of moderate members of Congress. Political pundits across America busied themselves by writing the obituary for moderates — the group capable of discovering common ground to break the political stalemate. Despite these predictions, moderate Democrats now have proof that pragmatic and results-oriented leadership will live on stronger than ever in the 113th Congress. The pundits should start with Volume II in the 113th Congress: “Invigoration of the New Dems: Solutions for the New Congress.”

New Dems believe in measuring both government programs and tax incentives by their impact on economic growth and competitiveness and at the same time understand our country can no longer remain on a successful path with unsustainable deficits. However, New Dems believe we must continue to identify and expand opportunities — for all Americans — by providing access to capital, opening new markets overseas, modernizing our export controls, investing in basic research, STEM education, broadband expansion, supporting bold education reform, job training and new infrastructure. These investments help lay the foundation for inclusive, sustainable, long-term economic growth. These are not liberal or conservative ideas; they are essential investments to improve the competitiveness of our workforce and bolster our businesses in a highly competitive global economy.

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Many readers may question where New Democrats register on the political spectrum because their ideals resonate with the vast majority of Americans: Democrats, Independents and even moderate Republicans. New Dems are the new wave of the Democratic Party, but they are not new on the political scene. In fact, as former members of Congress who helped start the New Democrat Coalition, we left with the comfort that our values and core policy beliefs would live on in this group.

Counting the results of the 2012 election, the coalition gained 16 new members, bringing its membership to 50, which is more than 25 percent of the entire House Democratic Caucus. The New Democrat Coalition is prospering and is the only growing moderate faction of either two major political parties. Just recently, Rep. Ron Kind of Wisconsin’s 3rd District took the helm of the New Democrat Coalition. And today, more than ever, this group holds the key to breaking the gridlock on Capitol Hill and finding a bipartisan agreement to remedy our fiscal challenges and strengthen our economy.